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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Partner, new woman best friend

182 replies

Jellyheadbang · 05/09/2025 11:17

Hi all. So my partner of almost 4 years together has got close to a new woman friend.

he has lots of women friends. I’ve never been jealous of them , but this one doesn’t sit right with me.

They work in a similar industry , but met socially. not as colleagues.
I'm indirectly linked to them too, particularly her and we will likely have work related interactions in future

he was not particularly forthcoming about the ins and outs of their first meeting and how they became friends.
it was a year ago but it’s only very recently that the level of their involvement with each other has come to light and how much they communicate without my knowledge

They were both away at a social event where he was working his second job, she was an attendee .
I started seeing her name pop up on his phone, he downplayed it but at the time I didn’t realise it was downplayed.
I was invited but couldn’t make it due to poor health.

Later on after she’s pursued a friendship with me , she told me they spent all the time together and that he really took her under his wing and was really caring and kind.

he had ignored me over that period, saying there’d been crossed wires and that he didn’t know I was expecting him back on a certain day or expecting to hear from him.

i have never had a doubt in my mind about his fidelity and even now I don’t think he’s ‘done’ anything with her but things she has said make me believe she would if he was up for it.

She’s not in a happy relationship and she’s made it clear she finds him attractive

Her and my partner are now collaborating on something together, he never told me.
she has no need to be directly involved , I think she’s using his name to get more coverage for herself and he’s possibly using her because she will throw money at publicitiy.
theres no other reason for her name to be all over it, it’s not her job and nothing within it is her job .

I found out via social media and she keeps dropping it into conversation in shared groups we’re in but neither of them have told me directly. We had had a huge row when this was announced online so at the time me and him weren’t communicating but we had been close in the build up to the announcement

they have a connection which I don’t feel we have at the moment.
we have not been getting on and it feels like they are getting closer, it is supposedly platonic from his side but he is clearly lapping up the attention.

she is pure drama and main character energy and she hugely admires him and posts him everywhere, resharing all his work and bigging him up and he’s happy to accept it and I feel so small and inconsequential.
i can’t compete and won’t because it’s not my style

Most of my friends have become close with her too as she’s now become part of our scene due to his presence and including her with everything , it’s made me come off social media because I feel like the third wheel. I’m feeling like the outsider and I don’t like it one bit.

I truly love my partner, and never ever had a scrap of doubt in my mind about him. But this woman a) is trying to be my friend and b) wants to be liked by everyone, she’s hugely popular and is out at all functions, meet ups etc, I’m often busy due to the kids and other commitments and when I have attended they have left me out of conversations, gone off to do other activities and left me alone etc.

she has lots of couple friends and has been in scenarios where the woman partner has flipped out because of her involvement and she always comes across as the innocent person and the other women being jealous exes.

she is a loudmouth and part of the reason I don’t feel comfortable or safe in a clear boundaries confrontation is because she will likely blow it up into a public thing and get people onside and I will look like a jealous possessive woman .

I have seen this happen first hand with her and other women. She has pursued all the men in this line of work and one friend’s husband told her to back off when she started pursuing a close friendship with him but my partner has played right into her hands, I think because she is giving him so much airspace.

It’s like she gets a kick out of being besties with other peoples husbands.

he maintains it’s me he loves, I’ve got the wrong end of the stick, they’re just mates etc but ifeel it’s driving a huge wedge between us.

i can’t give an ultimatum, there are too many close connections and the way our relationship is currently I think he’d go behind my back anyway, he’s clearly prioritised her over me several times and it’s not until recently that she’s started to ‘bait’ me by constantly dropping into conversations things my dp has told her before telling me, social plans they’ve made

I don’t know how to process this or how to move on.

OP posts:
wizzywig · 05/09/2025 15:15

Have the other mens partners expressed concerns to you?
I only know a couple of arty creative men. They really love to be adored and feel like they are utter geniuses. Always in unequal relationships. Please put yourself and your kiddies first. You have your head screwed on.

Jellyheadbang · 05/09/2025 15:17

Yayabee23 · 05/09/2025 13:48

Your feeling are completely valid.
I would be flipping scenarios around on him or tell him about a 'friend' who's husband is so close to someone and tells this woman things before his wife etc and see what he says.....then ask him why it's acceptable for him to do that to you.
I know it sounds silly, but use words like 'i wonder why you did that?' I trust that you will respect my wishes of keeping this conversation between us....
If he tells her, there is more in it with them.
Or you ask your husband if you an both sit down with this woman (you also have someone there) and hash it out

Your feelings are completely valid and it sounds like he isn't being supportive or caring within your relationship. TRUST your gut, yes, jealousy can hinder our gut instincts but if it's that strong then listen to it.

OR ....call his bluff, tell him you know the answer as you've been told there's more too it so you want to hear his side of the story , the amount of people that sing like a canary because they think they've been caught out is crazy xx

This was my first instinct, both scenarios. I know for a fact that if I presented this situation to him as someone else’s problem he would be in total agreement with me about the inappropriateness of it and why that person might feel uncomfortable.

i have also considered calling his bluff and seeing if he would tell me the truth if I framed it a certain way, I could easily frame it as ‘what do you think her version is ?’ Because their versions differ so much but it feels also like I’m then part of their game/ his game and is game playing going to help me in the long run or just prolong the inevitable?

I am so drained by trying to get him to see my point of view on so many different things in our relationship . I think his creative role and acclaim has given him an inflated sense of self and enables him to be completely selfish in relationships maybe

OP posts:
Jellyheadbang · 05/09/2025 15:21

wizzywig · 05/09/2025 15:15

Have the other mens partners expressed concerns to you?
I only know a couple of arty creative men. They really love to be adored and feel like they are utter geniuses. Always in unequal relationships. Please put yourself and your kiddies first. You have your head screwed on.

No, they’re not people I’m close to , it’s more like she will say oh so and so has got it into her head there’s something going on with x, or that wife said i overstepped the mark with y, these are usually relationships like mine where things were already rocky.

then she has told me that she’s been told to back off from a husband because it’s inappropriate and she will tell me that she’s after this guy or that guy.

when we were still close, my ‘partner’ has mentioned a couple of times that she’s asked him to connect her with his friends, I guess that bit is partly what put me off the scent with him and her because she was talking to him about other men

OP posts:
fedup078 · 05/09/2025 15:24

She sounds like an utter shit and needs to get herself a more wholesome hobby than chasing men . Absolutely pathetic and insufferable.

pikkumyy77 · 05/09/2025 16:01

Lost my long and well thought out post. In the interest of success I will keep it brief. Your problem now is how to detangle in a tight so ial scene. The best thing to do is take the position that you threw him away. Be publicly bored with her and him.

Linda are you contacting me to get to Charlie? Just go ahead and move in with him. I don’t mind.

If people ask just smile and say “well, I knew getting in that four years was probably as much as he could manage. He has started reminding me of the tediously unfaithful boyfriend in sliding doors and after you see the resemblance you can’t unsee it. “

Ariana12 · 05/09/2025 16:10

I just wanted to say how VERY sorry I am. You sound like a really thoughtful emotionally intelligent person and you are being hurt by this drip drip sidelining and gaslighting of you - especially hard when she is intertwined in both your lives. Like pretty much everyone else ( and you too) I think he wants to eat his cake and still have it. Put yourself first and remove yourself from this if you can. It may be a wake up call for him in which case good. But in any case you deserve better.

Hatty65 · 05/09/2025 16:23

As far as she is concerned I would just ignore any messages/breadcrumbs. If you bump into her in a work situation be dismissive, 'I've been really busy, Elaine and not had time to reply' and excuse yourself to speak to others. If she makes a fuss to others look surprised/roll your eyes and say, 'She's really an acquaintance. I don't know her very well and I've got a lot on at the moment'. Or 'She's part of John's little group and I've been caught up with other friends' etc.

Take the power away from her by making it clear that she's an utter irrelevance in your life - you've not 'fallen out with her' you've just got other priorities than someone you have only a tenuous link to.

Fairyfae · 05/09/2025 16:31

Speaking from recent experience with exactly the same thing you are right to be concerned. I felt the same way about a woman at dh work of very similar description to the kind of woman you have described, all over the men too, and he denied it for weeks shes just a friend etc. Fast forward to now and its all come out that they developed an emotional affair and sexting after her pursuing him and him falling for it but making a choice to do it too. Currently deciding whether to reconcile or not . Please listen to your intuition, mine was spot on for weeks. im broken right now over what has happened here. If shes anything like who my DH has got involved with, 100% right to be concerned. I agree with all the replies on this thread. Do not stand for any shit from him
I hope you are ok Huge hugs xxx

JimmyGiraffe · 05/09/2025 16:46

but it feels like she's squeezed her way into your relationship and is gradually nudging you out of it

That’s what I wanted to say but couldn’t find the right words. But he should not have let this happen. The only successful example of a man doing the right thing I can think of, is when Gary Lineker had to decline Princess Diana’s overtures of friendship because they didn’t include his wife!

HeavyDuvet · 05/09/2025 17:03

Maybe he's pushing you to end it.

This woman may just be a decoy, I' mean narcs do like to help other narcs or maybe she's a flying monkey, doing the dirty biz for him.

He clearly gets bored easily, his wife, relationships and even his own kids, if I were you I'd bow out before he destroys you. He clearly has to keep his rep and if you refuse to go quietly he may take you under.

This doesn't sound like a common a garden affair, this situation sounds nuanced and reputation damaging.

Has he presented you in the beggining as the logical one who wouldn't stoop so low as to show jealousy, this has kept you in your place and prevented you from having boundaries.

Do you think it's possible he wants to discard you without looking like the purpitraitor.

She could just be helping him.

It screams narcissist.

Takenoprisoner · 05/09/2025 17:07

He is pouring all of his energy into her. and You are pouring all of your energy into him, especially now as you slowly go crazy. And the more energy you pour into him, the more he has to give her.

This relationship is over, you just haven't admitted it to yourself. Just end it and reclaim your peace.

TwoTuesday · 05/09/2025 17:21

The pair of them sound absolutely batshit, main character syndrome all round. She's a complete troublemaker and your partner is lapping it up for the ego kibbles. I wouldn't give her any satisfaction, if you want to end the relationship do it calmly, don't rise to the bait, don't engage with her at all. It sounds like you're more than ready to move on.

momtoboys · 05/09/2025 17:21

It does appear that he has checked out of the relationship. Sometimes I think that indifference is that hardest relationship situation to deal with. I'm sorry this is happening, but you need to protect yourself.

CharlotteLightandDark · 05/09/2025 17:22

How is she benefitting his work? Is she a promotor/curator/gallery/label owner? Or does she just post on sm about him a lot? Does she have a lot of followers in that industry?

Jellyheadbang · 05/09/2025 17:29

Thank you all for replies. . I have been so confused and conflicted about it, partly because of his on/ off behaviour, always declarations of love but then making me feel sidelined and embarrassed about speaking up.
and conflicted by her because she is ‘with’ someone and acting like my friend but I feel like she is ousting me whilst still being my friend, it’s weird.

@Fairyfae I’m so sorry to read your post, I am crying here now, I really feel for you, good luck with whatever you decide to do. I can honestly say I’ve never knowingly gone for an attached man. I’ve had plenty go for me and I could never be complicit in cheating on another person. I have no idea if anything has happened between them, I’m convinced it’s currently platonic but I know she has designs on him and I don’t doubt there’s been some sort of flirtation between them and some definite emotional intimacy, that much is obvious by her behaviour towards him and by the look on his face when she comes up in conversation.
it’s very creepy how she’s changed her whole look to be more like mine, could be coincidence but it feels off. I know she sees him as the prize and that for a long time she was in awe of what she perceived our relationship to be, as soon as she saw the cracks I think is when she started changing her dynamic with him.

but yes, in answer to someone else, I think he has narcissistic traits. I have never thought this before due to his kind and sympathetic presentation and reasoning and various other things but I now think he’s just hidden it very well.

i think his empathy is fake and I know she doesn’t have any empathy whatsoever and they both have odd boundaries in other areas,

i think he has emotional avoidance tendencies too, but i can’t let that excuse how he’s making me feel

OP posts:
Fairyfae · 05/09/2025 17:35

Jellyheadbang · 05/09/2025 17:29

Thank you all for replies. . I have been so confused and conflicted about it, partly because of his on/ off behaviour, always declarations of love but then making me feel sidelined and embarrassed about speaking up.
and conflicted by her because she is ‘with’ someone and acting like my friend but I feel like she is ousting me whilst still being my friend, it’s weird.

@Fairyfae I’m so sorry to read your post, I am crying here now, I really feel for you, good luck with whatever you decide to do. I can honestly say I’ve never knowingly gone for an attached man. I’ve had plenty go for me and I could never be complicit in cheating on another person. I have no idea if anything has happened between them, I’m convinced it’s currently platonic but I know she has designs on him and I don’t doubt there’s been some sort of flirtation between them and some definite emotional intimacy, that much is obvious by her behaviour towards him and by the look on his face when she comes up in conversation.
it’s very creepy how she’s changed her whole look to be more like mine, could be coincidence but it feels off. I know she sees him as the prize and that for a long time she was in awe of what she perceived our relationship to be, as soon as she saw the cracks I think is when she started changing her dynamic with him.

but yes, in answer to someone else, I think he has narcissistic traits. I have never thought this before due to his kind and sympathetic presentation and reasoning and various other things but I now think he’s just hidden it very well.

i think his empathy is fake and I know she doesn’t have any empathy whatsoever and they both have odd boundaries in other areas,

i think he has emotional avoidance tendencies too, but i can’t let that excuse how he’s making me feel

Sending more love and hugs. He sounds a lot like my DH same kind of traits. I really hope things aren't anything more for you. Try to stay strong and keep an eye on things xx ❤️

Jellyheadbang · 05/09/2025 17:37

CharlotteLightandDark · 05/09/2025 17:22

How is she benefitting his work? Is she a promotor/curator/gallery/label owner? Or does she just post on sm about him a lot? Does she have a lot of followers in that industry?

She posts about him a LOT , and because of her keen interest in his art and the discipline she has a lot of followers and schmoozes very well so she can effectively do all his marketing for him without any effort on his part at all .
Effectively she has given herself a role as his unofficial agent, a proper superfan conversion like when people used to run fan clubs and then get access to the bands themselves and start gatekeeping them from other lesser fans.

It also rankles because I used to do a lot of his online work for him because I enjoy it and I’m good at it and I wanted to support him but then I backed off because I felt this unequal load in our relationship

I could tell he was disappointed when I backed off with his work but he never said anything , there’s quite a few things where I wonder if he’s quietly getting revenge on me for various things but then I tell myself I might just be a bit mad and overthinking things as friends say.

he told me once he got with a woman to spite his ex who hated this woman, this was thirty odd years ago but it’s started making me think lately maybe it is something along those lines

i could never ask him because it would definitely be turned back onto me as being crazy and paranoid

OP posts:
LupaMoonhowl · 05/09/2025 17:40

I just can’t bear the audacity of these women! (Had similar). Could not imagine behaving in this way with a man who is in a relationships!
Utterly brazen.
And for all those who say, don’t blame her, he has agency- there really are some predatory people there so probably don’t even want the man, just take pleasure in the ego boost of being chosen over the incumbent partner. 😔😔😔

HeavyDuvet · 05/09/2025 17:45

So he's using her for unpaid labour, which you used to do and now don't.

He likes getting his money's worth doesn't he.

Fairyfae · 05/09/2025 17:48

LupaMoonhowl · 05/09/2025 17:40

I just can’t bear the audacity of these women! (Had similar). Could not imagine behaving in this way with a man who is in a relationships!
Utterly brazen.
And for all those who say, don’t blame her, he has agency- there really are some predatory people there so probably don’t even want the man, just take pleasure in the ego boost of being chosen over the incumbent partner. 😔😔😔

This 100%

Jellyheadbang · 05/09/2025 17:49

HeavyDuvet · 05/09/2025 17:45

So he's using her for unpaid labour, which you used to do and now don't.

He likes getting his money's worth doesn't he.

Ha! I never saw it like that. Yes this is true, plus she gets the adjacent limelight so they’re both scratching each other’s back and god knows what else. I kind of want to fast forward to them being a couple but I think that’s my anxiety/ catastrophising speaking out

OP posts:
Jellyheadbang · 05/09/2025 17:56

LupaMoonhowl · 05/09/2025 17:40

I just can’t bear the audacity of these women! (Had similar). Could not imagine behaving in this way with a man who is in a relationships!
Utterly brazen.
And for all those who say, don’t blame her, he has agency- there really are some predatory people there so probably don’t even want the man, just take pleasure in the ego boost of being chosen over the incumbent partner. 😔😔😔

Sorry you’ve had similar. It’s quite mad-making, reminds me of an episode of black mirror where nobody can see what’s she’s doing except me.
I wholeheartedly agree that he is responsible for his actions and he is not stupid, he has been around the block. He is an attractive man and has always had women after him so he knows what’s appropriate and what isn’t.

when they first bonded she wasn’t conventionally attractive and was definitely much more ‘one of the guys’ .
over that year she has metamorphosed beyond recognition, I know it sounds crazy but the transformation is pretty impressive, everyone is talking about how amazing she looks now and how well she’s done etc And she has really moved in on building friendships with women which she wasn’t bothered about before, she always said she preferred the company of men but suddenly she’s started setting up various women’s groups, women’s events and showing an interest and even passion for things and causes that privately she’s said are of no consequence to her.

OP posts:
CharlotteLightandDark · 05/09/2025 17:57

Well they sound like they would be a totally toxic couple and would probably implode in a flurry of dysfunction pretty quickly. They won’t make each other happy but that’s not for you to concern yourself with.

it doesn’t sound like deep down you really respect him as a man or a partner anymore and I don’t blame you. It’s probably time for you to go ❤️

happinessischocolate · 05/09/2025 17:58

TutiFrutti · 05/09/2025 13:59

Hi, I'm sure you'll navigate the best path through this for you.
If it were me I would tell him you're leaving the relationship because it's not making you happy any more (that is a good enough reason in it's own right) and not bring her into it at all.
That way If she starts any nonsense trying to label you as jealous etc you can dismiss her as being irrelevant.
She'll look a bit silly trying to make it about her.
Good luck though, you sound lovely and you deserve to be happy.

I agree with this

The relationship is not working, even if she disappeared tomorrow surely the damage is already done.

Id tell him that YOU don’t love HIM anymore and you’ve decided it’s over.

take back the control over your life and the narrative

Yayabee23 · 05/09/2025 18:02

The fact is, we are all entitled to our opinion and all thoughts and feelings are valid. However, as your partner he needs to be kind, compassionate and listen to your needs.

It sounds like you need to sit down and tell each other what you both need from each other. It's not about ultimatums but if you were making him feel like that and confiding in a male friend more than him, how would that make him feel and what would he be asking of you?

You should not be gaslighted, made to feel second best or ultimately, lied too. It's ok to have friendship of the same/opposite sex.

For context, I am polyamerous ...I feel people can have more than one partner/connection if both parties agree and are open and honest.
For a fact your partner has a romantic connection with this woman, whether anything has happened or not. He is telling her things before you, staying out and not being honest....that's premeditated Hun.
You don't forget to tell your partner whether you are or what you are up to. Trust is builr on honest.

You may want to fix what you have but would you be happy with him continuing some type of friendship with this woman if you stayed together? As they are colleagues.
What advice would you give to your son or daughter if they were you. Never let anyone dull your sparkle. I am a firm believer that everyone deserves to be happy in life.

He shouldn't be allowing this woman to antagonise you and if this happens, he should be saying something.

What is more important to him, you or this 'friend'? That's the ultimate question.
I'm so sorry you are going through this, it's not ok!